WASHINGTON- U.S. House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) released the following statement today on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) announcement to withdraw the methane information request from oil drillers.

Chairman Smith: “I applaud EPA’s prompt withdrawal from the information request from oil drillers, which was the first step in putting additional burdensome and unnecessary regulations on methane emissions from existing oil and gas facilities. Emissions from this sector continue to steadily decrease in large part because of voluntary emissions reductions programs and advances in technologies.  This decrease indicates the futility of new and burdensome EPA regulations. Instead of wasting taxpayers’ money on frivolous activities that do little to protect the environment, EPA should spend its resources on developing sound science that will lead to technological breakthrough.”